and so it goes

After my last treatment, I did think to ask if these side effects (particularly the nausea) could get progressively worse each time. The answer - yes. And so it goes.

Unfortunately, the nausea isn't the only side effect that can get worse. I had chemo on Wednesday, but went back to the cancer center on Friday for more fluids - to "try to break the cycle" as my oncologist put it. It worked over the weekend, but then by Tuesday evening the nausea was back worse than ever. I couldn't keep the anti-nausea pills down. From about 4 a.m. on, I was vomiting every hour. (Sorry - that's probably more than most of you wanted to know). At 8, I called the cancer center and was on my way back in.

I was extremely dehydrated (again), and had a fever to go along with the low white blood count (0.3) They pumped me full of fluids and antibiotics "as fast as we can." I can't remember ever feeling so miserable. I was cold, shivering, and crying. I just felt so very tired. I told my oncologist to just shoot me and let me die. Dr. Liepman is a no nonsense, wonderful, caring doctor. She told me there would be no shooting, and I wasn't going to die.

After 8 hours of fluids, she transferred me to the hospital. My esophagus was so sore that I couldn't swallow anything - even water hurt. I spent three days in the hospital - Thanksgiving and all - getting more fluids, anti-nausea medicine, antibiotics, and daily Neupogen injections to bring my white blood cell count back up.

My red blood cells are also down, so a transfusion was suggested. I can't say why, but I wasn't comfortable with that, so I declined. They will regenerate themselves in a couple of months anyway. The result is that I will be "more tired than normal" (I don't know what "normal" is anymore), so I guess I can live with that. Charley pampers me by bringing me warm quilts from the dryer, and wraps me up in them. What a luxury!

The good news is that is going to be my last chemo treatment. Dr. Liepman said she thought suspending the last treatment would be best. Given the risk/benefit factor, I have to say that I am mostly relieved with that decision.

So, now I can start healing and feeling better. I am happy to be done with that phase of my treatment, and looking forward to moving on. Yipee!

What hit me?

I am not sure what happened, but this second treatment hit me hard. I was nauseated for 6 days, and it just kept getting worse. I couldn't even sit up without feeling like I would either vomit or faint. No food sounded good, and no liquid did either, leading to dehydration and more misery.
I finally worked up the energy to call the cancer center, and they told me to come in right away (as if that was going to be easy.) Charley - bless him! - warmed up the car, while I got dressed, and drove me into Kalamazoo, where he went inside and picked up a wheelchair for me. I would never have made it to the second floor without one.
They started fluids and potassium immediately, and ran my blood counts. My white blood count dropped to 1.1. I think a "normal range" is between 4 and 11. I had just talked them into reducing the Neulasta last week since my WBC was 10, and I felt terrific. What a difference a week can make.

Fortunately, the fluids, anti-nausea drugs, and the injection for WBC has made me feel much better. I feel almost normal tonight. What a relief!